The Most Valuable Thing You Can Give

Harvest Time, the church I am a part of is about to go into a series where we’re going to be talking about getting out of debt and what it means to give. I started think about the most valuable thing in my life… my daughter. 

Aside from my wife, my daughter is the most important person in my life. We prayed for her for years - she literally is a miracle! Each day I wake up to her cries and the majority of the time I actually think, “I can’t believe that God trusted her to me!” (In fact, you may think that the picture of me to the right is just some random pic of me trying to be trendy but I’m actually looking down at my daughter as that picture was taken.)

Now, honest moment… I don’t know that I truly love God enough to have an Abraham/Isaac moment on a mountain. I can’t even imagine that test as a father. But I can relate to another person in the Bible. Her name was Hannah. She had similar situation to Abraham and Sarah. 

In the Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 1 Hannah says these words, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted my petition made to Him. Therefore I have GIVEN him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is GIVEN to the Lord.”

The most valuable thing you can give to the Lord is your child.

A few questions: Will your children live to please you more? Or Him more? Will they follow your dreams for them? Or His?? I’m not saying it’ll be easy - my baby is still a baby - but after all she was His child long before she was mine.

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The Dare: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is…

Matthew 19:16-29 [MSG]

16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”17 Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.” 18 The man asked, “What in particular?” Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie,19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”20 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”21 “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.23 As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom?24 Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”25 The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”26 Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”27 Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?”28 Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel.29 And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.

So, you want to do something great for God, I DARE YOU to put your money where your mouth is. Maybe you took THE DARE, Jesus I’m going to really live for you, I’m going to become the man or woman of God you’ve call me to be… But here’s the clarifying question world changer, “What are you sacrificing to follow Him?” Craig I really do want to give up everything, but I’m new at this how do I know what I need to sacrifice??

Ask yourself 2 questions:

1. What is really important in my life?

Matthew 19:16-20 [MSG]

16 Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”17 Jesus said, “Why do you question me about what’s good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you.” 18 The man asked, “What in particular?” Jesus said, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie,19 honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself.”20 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”

You must do what God tells you…

Can you tell me the 10 commandments?

  • No other gods.
  • No carved gods.
  • No using the name of God in curses or silly banter.
  • Observe the Sabbath.
  • Honor your father and mother.
  • No murder.
  • No adultery.
  • No stealing.
  • No lying.
  • No lusting after anything that is your neighbor’s.

So you do everything God tells you huh? Give away all your money. What else are you serving? No other gods only me…

Matthew 19:20-22 [MSG]

20 The young man said, “I’ve done all that. What’s left?”21 “If you want to give it all you’ve got,” Jesus replied, “go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me.”22 That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crestfallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn’t bear to let go.

What is really important in my life? God. Really?? What are you holding on tight to that is robbing you of your destiny? My friend, Josh Mayo calls this “Rich young ruler” the 13th disciple… fitting. He could have been that. He could have been something great for God.  Are you going to allow your life to be a “could be life” like his?? Or is there something that stirs up inside of you that says NO MORE. This may be GOOD in my life, but I let it go to be GREAT.

2. What will hold me back?

When you made Jesus #1 you gave up your right to be right. So here’s my question for you… “What people or circumstances do you need to let go of?”

A little kid named Brent visited his grandparents during the summer and received his first slingshot. His grandparents had only one instruction: “Only use the slingshot in the back, wooded part of the farm. We don’t want anyone hurt.” So Brent practiced in the woods hour after hour, but he could never hit his target. Discouraged, he finally started to walk back towards the farmhouse. When he reached the backyard, he saw his Grandmother’s treasured pet duck. On an impulse, he took aim and let it fly. Unbelievably, for the first time that day, the stone hit its target. The pet duck fell dead in the middle of the back yard. Brent panicked. Scared and guilty, he hid the dead duck in a woodpile and started to walk away as though nothing had happened. But right as he stood up, he saw that his older sister, Lauren, was watching. She said nothing. But the expression on her face let Brent know that she had seen it all.

After lunch that day, Grandma said, “Lauren, let’s wash the dishes.” But Lauren said, “Grandma, Brent told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Brent?” And under her breath so no one could hear but her younger brother, she whispered, “Remember the duck!” So Brent did the dishes.

Later, Brent and Lauren’s grandfather asked if the kids wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, “I’m sorry, but I need Lauren to stay around the house to help me with dinner. We have company coming.”

Once again, Lauren smiled and said, “That’s all taken care of. Brent loves to help with stuff like that. He just mentioned to me that he wanted to spend more time with Grandma, so I’ll go fishing with you Granddad, and Brent can stay here.” Again she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Brent stayed behind again to work while Lauren went fishing.

After several days of Brent doing both HIS chores and Lauren’s, he couldn’t take it any longer. Crying, he blurted out the truth to his Grandma. He told her that HE had been the one who killed her pet duck, and that he had hidden its lifeless body deep under the woodpile.

His grandmother was very understanding. She bent down and gave him a loving hug. But her next words blew him out of the water. “I knew everything that went on, Brent. I was standing at the window and saw it all. Because I love you, I forgave you right away. I have just been wondering how long you would let your sister make you HER SLAVE.”

That is a great picture of what the Enemy does to each of us. We’ve been forgiven but many times we can’t forgive ourselves or others around us. Give up your right to be right… You’re right that other person was WRONG! It is horrible that they did that to you… but you’re not punishing them by not forgiving them, you’re punishing your future. They stole one moment, don’t give them any more.

Don’t allow that un-forgiveness to hold you back. Maybe you’re good with un-forgiveness… maybe for you it’s much more simple. I want to live for God, but my friends are a bad influence on me. We say it all the time SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS AND I’LL SHOW YOU… YOUR FUTURE. You don’t need Christian friends, you need friends who are really Christian. People who will challenge you to become more like Christ. “I can’t ditch my friends, they’re my friends!” Do they make you more like Christ when you’re around them? If the answer is no, then they are holding you back. You can keep your friends and lose your destiny. Or you can let go of the friendship that is holding you back and keep your destiny. “That’s cold! How can I ditch my friends like that?” Do you really love them? YES! Are you good for each other - honestly - NO! Are you their salvation or is Christ? When you let go of a friendship, you are saying, God, I cannot be this person’s salvation - you have to be. Here’s the most important part - FIND RIGHT FRIENDSHIPS.

Matthew 19:23-29 [MSG]

23 As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom?24 Let me tell you, it’s easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye than for the rich to enter God’s kingdom.”25 The disciples were staggered. “Then who has any chance at all?”26 Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”27 Then Peter chimed in, “We left everything and followed you. What do we get out of it?”28 Jesus replied, “Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel.29 And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.

You want to live for God?

I DARE YOU TO PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS…

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One Small Act

Here’s a message I did from John Maxwell’s “Running with the Giants”:

I want to talk to you about one of the greatest events in the OT. It happens in the life of Naaman… He was the Commander of the Syrian army. The Bible says that he earned the love and respect of his king. But there was a problem, he had leprosy. Think about this, he was commander of the army of one of the most powerful nations in the world at that time AND HE HAD LEPROSY! This dude was bad!!!

2 Kings 5:1-3 [NKJV]

1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”

The story continues… Naaman asks the king of Syria (his master) if he can go to Israel and see this prophet that his little servant girl told his wife about. He left with A LOT of money and gifts, and a letter from the King of Syria to the King of Israel.

2 Kings 5:6 [NKJV]

6 Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.

Have you ever had one of those days? You know, the kind of day where the news just can’t get any worse?? The King of Israel was having one of those days. He tore his clothes thinking this was some ploy so Syria could attack Israel. LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND… What if [hypothetical] some of the seemingly impossible situations in our lives were sent by God so that we can be used in a mighty way?? We pray, “God use me!”…but are we really ok when the opportunity presents itself?? Elisha hears what happened and steps in. Naaman goes to Elisha’s door and Elisha doesn’t even see him. Elisha sends a messenger to him. Doesn’t the man of God understand what is on the line here??

2 Kings 5:10-12 [NKJV]

10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

Naaman’s Class of Leadership 101:

  1. Get angry when things don’t go the way you wanted them to. (But Naaman became furious – v.11)
  2. Expect everyone else to cater to you and your desires. (Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me… – v.11)
  3. Always have a microwave mentality. Go for the quick fix. (…wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ – v.11)
  4. Hold onto your own assumptions and misconceptions at all costs. (Are not the Abanah and the Phapar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? - v.12)
  5. Reject what you don’t understand. (So he turned and went away in a rage –v.12)

2 Kings 5:13-14 [NKJV]

13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

What does Naaman speak to us today? Surround yourself with people who can disagree with you (and give you wise counsel.) Who has permission to disagree with you? When you get wise counsel follow it! Does your system of accountability have action? (Many times we set up accountability in our lives not to change but to appease our conscience. Remain teachable. What if we miss out on God’s blessings because we thought we had everything figured out? 

But this is not the great story I was talking about… How was Naaman healed? Maybe through obedience or by the prophet?? OR was there another catalyst to the healing process? Let’s look back at the story.

2 Kings 5: 2-3 [NKJV]

2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”

LESSONS WE CAN LEARN OF GREATNESS:

IF YOU CHOOSE TO ACT, class, race, age or gender cannot hinder your impact.

Many times we discount what we can do because we think that we are too small or powerless to make a difference. She was a slave, the lowest anyone could be in social standing. She was an outsider, a Jew living in Syria. She was young, why would a powerful leader listen to her? She was a female in a male dominated culture. She had nothing going for her—no power, no position, no possessions. I think the Apostle Paul would say it like this… “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

NO ACT is too small.

Naaman had access to the best doctors in the country. Most likely everyone in his household had watched him go through every conceivable treatment—ALL OF WHICH FAILED! On top of that… she couldn’t even heal Naaman! All she could do is make a suggestion to her mistress, Naaman’s wife. Rather than being discouraged by what she couldn’t do, she did what she could do.

HER ACT took guts.

She took a huge risk by stating that her God could heal Naaman. Imagine what would have happened to her if he didn’t come back healed?? In fact the stakes weren’t just high on her but on all of Israel. Not only was Naaman healed but his faith changed.

2 Kings 5:15 [NKJV]

“Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel

ONE SMALL ACT!!

This little, insignificant slave girl was able to change the course of history and we don’t even know her name.

This hits me…

I started to ask myself questions:

Do I only look for opportunities that will get people to know my name?

Do I pass over God moments because they are too small or too insignificant? 

Am I confident that God will come through?

Will I risk my reputation for what I know is right?? 

If a situation arose would people around me even listen to me? Does my character make way for my counsel??

…because one small act really can make a difference.


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The Dream: One Thing

Our vision for 2009-2010 for 180remix is Dream. Over the next few weeks Pastor Josh and myself will be talking about “The Dream” for 180remix. I thought it would be fitting to show a few clips of one of my favorite movies along with this post. Before we get into anything I would like to encourage you, as you read this may you be encouraged to call your shot when it comes to THE DREAM in your life.

VIDEO 1

Have you ever been in a pickle? I think we all can say that at one point in our lives we were in a pickle of some sort. 

Maybe it was a situation we were in or the bad habit we just can’t kick… Maybe it was this thing we did in our past that we just can’t get away from or our DREAM looks like it’s about to die… 

But one thing is for sure… we’re in a pickle. There was a man by the name of Saul in the NT and he was in a pickle. This was a man who killed Christians for a living in the name of God. In fact, Saul thought he was right in doing so when in fact he was very wrong.

Acts 9:1-4 [NKJV]

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting

Saul persecuted Jesus. Maybe some of us can relate. At one time we persecuted the very Jesus we now serve. And it haunts you. You can’t get away from it. No matter how much you try to get away, it is just this nagging beast that is always there.

VIDEO 2

A beast can be defining - not only to yourself but to others around you. You walk into a room and immediately feel the whispers about your past mistakes real or imagined. It’s not that you don’t want to be a part of THE DREAM God has for your life, you just feel like you can’t.

Acts 9:8-13 [NKJV]

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.

Let’s be honest, haven’t you ever thought, how can I be a part of THE DREAM when I’ve done so much harm to Jesus. How could I ever really give everything to God? He can’t forgive me because I can’t forgive myself. The worst part is that just when I think I do something great, I mess it all up again.

VIDEO 3

Acts 9:17-22 [NKJV]

17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Some of us need to have the spiritual scales fall off of your eyes. For too long you’ve believed that lie that you’re not good enough, you’ve messed to much up, you can never break your bad habits, you’ll never get rid of your sin, you’ll never attain YOUR DREAM.

But here is the reality. God has given you THE DREAM. No one else but you can fulfill YOUR DREAM. It’s time to remember that you are different now, you’re not the same person you once were. It’s time for some of us to realize the destiny that in on our lives. It’s time to stop taking the miracle of salvation in our lives for granted and start to immediately preach Christ with our lives.

Some of us have forgotten that THE DREAM in our lives is another PERSON, not a PULPIT (or another ministry). It’s time for some of us to become legends and IMMEDIATELY PREACH CHRIST with our lives.

VIDEO 4

Paul was the original VILLAIN. He was everything Jesus preached against.But once his life was changed he didn’t become a HERO he became a LEGEND.

Philippians 3:12-14 [NKJV]

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12-14 [AMP]

12  Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.13  I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,14  I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

The same man that killed Christians is the same man who said, ONE THING I do, FORGETTING what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

It’s time to forget your past and immediately preach Christ. 

We need some LEGENDS in the Kingdom again. 

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Awards

Tonight was the second annual 180 Awards… this is a night we do to celebrate the great choices people are making with their lives. I wanted to share a couple of reflections from the night. 

I was reading in Exodus a few minutes ago and came across an interesting verse so I looked it up in the KJV. 

Exodus 16:33-34 [KJV] And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

Now let me give you a few notes about this verse that are interesting to me. 1) An omer is a tenth of an ephah—approximately a tenth of eight gallons. I just think it’s interesting that God would tell Moses who delegated to Aaron to set aside a tenth of the manna they were given. 2)They took that omer of manna and “laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.”

Testimony in this verse is not referring to the ark of the testimony (ark of the covenant). Honestly I have not done enough homework on this to know any other representation that this could be except for the fact that testimony in this verse literally means: to bear witness or evidence. So this manna was set aside to bear witness as evidence of what God did for generations to come. It was a silent reminder of who God is and what He has done.

Here is my point. Tonight was successful not just because we had a Christian outreach and 40-50 people gave their lives to the Lord. But tonight we honored people who have laid up their lives before the Testimony. See we give testimony’s but tonight was a night to honor living testimonies. People who don’t have to use words but their lives are a testimony, a silent reminder, of who God is in their life. This post is a shout out to all the winners, to all the nominees, and mostly this is a shout out to everyone who was neither… It takes only the truest of living testimonies to actually be happy for someone else who is being honored. To those who looked past their insecurities and possible jealousy’s of the winners and nominees, you were the true heroes and living testimonies this evening, Congratulations!

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